Expansion system to increase the size of a shoe

ABSTRACT

This invention utilizing an expansion dial and expansion plates is unique due to the fact that never before has there been a shoe that functions as a “normal” shoe that expands easily using a dial to choose the desired size of shoe. This invention is intended primarily for toddlers&#39; shoes due to the relatively fast changing of foot size, however can be incorporated into children&#39;s shoes as well.

This system allows for the expansion of a shoe by “pushing” the extents of the shoe through expansion points by rotation of an expansion dial.

PROCESS OF EXPANSION

Included in this system is an expansion dial that is graduated along the radius of the dial, thus as the dial is turned, the effective radius gets bigger. A plate (steel or plastic or equivalent) rides along the dial. The plate is anchored into the extremity of the shoe. When the dial is turned, the graduated radius will push on the plate, which will in turn push on the extremity of the shoe. Additionally, the plate will have to extend past an expansion “area” through the cross section of the shoe. This material will be able to expand to allow the extremity of the shoe to be pushed out without overstressing the shoe.

In order for the shoe to expand, the user will turn the expansion dial. As the dial turns, the graduated radius will push the expansion plate (one toward the front of the shoe, and one toward the back) out. As the plate pushes the extremity of the shoe out, the expansion area (between the expansion dial and the termination of the expansion plate) will expand, allowing the entire shoe to expand without overstressing any materials in the shoe. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Expansion system, using an expansion dial and embedded expansion plates, allows for easy, incremental, reversible expansion of a shoe. 